But as Fairleigh Dickinson political science professor Dan Cassino pointed out, that 36 percent may be the highest amount of backing O’Donnell’s ever received in Delaware. “This poll shows that O’Donnell is 10 points ahead of the 26 percent she polled after the 2008 primary, and has already matched the 35 percent she ultimately received in the 2008 race against Biden,” he said.

The poll also shows how the tea-party movement is splitting Delaware voters. Seventy-seven percent of those who support the tea party back O’Donnell, while the 86 percent of those who look upon the tea party unfavorably support Coons.

One hopeful sign for O’Donnell may be how voters concerned about the economy are heavily supporting her. Fifty-three percent of voters think the economy is on the wrong track, and among those, 60 percent support O’Donnell, while only 28 percent back Coons.